Rajeev Kumar, the Director General of Police for West Bengal, visited Sandeshkhali before returning to Kolkata and threatening legal action against anyone who violated the law. Rajeev Kumar, the Director General of Police for West Bengal, arrived in Sandeshkhali on Wednesday to assess the situation.
“Action will be taken against all those who took law in their hands. The allegations of locals are being heard and looked into. Everyone should cooperate with the police and Administration. Action will be taken against anyone who broke the law,” said West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Vice Chairman Ananta Nayak is also visiting Sandeshkhali.
Ahead of visiting Sqandeshkahli, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Vice Chairman said, “The Commission received a complaint from Sandeshkhali. We are going there in the same context. It is a rule of the Commission that we ask for a report from the DGP and the Chief Secretary. We have given them a three-day time. We are going to see the ground reality on the basis of the complaint. We are going to meet the complainant…”
Unrest has been raging in the Sandeshkhali area for more than ten days, with female protestors demanding justice for what they believe to be atrocities carried out by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates. Many women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates of forcing them into a “land-grab and sexual assault.”
Since a mob purportedly connected to Shajahan attacked Enforcement Directorate officers on January 5 who had gone to search his property in relation to a ration scam, Shajahan has been evading capture. Earlier on Wednesday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose stated that he was waiting for the day that Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested. This came after the division bench of the Calcutta High Court permitted West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari to visit Sandeshkhali.
“Today the newspapers reported certain very proactive comments, observations made by the Honourable High Court. I perfectly go by what the Honourable High Court said. I have already made it clear that this criminal has to be arrested. I am waiting for the day when he is arrested,” the Governor said while responding to a reporter about Sheikh Shahjahan, who is still on the run.
Responding to the letter shot off by the Governor’s office to the Chief Minister on the Sandeshkhali turmoil, Bose said, “…I have received two communications in this regard…We are in touch with each other. I hope we will be able to find a solution to the issue.”
Bose commented, “I should not demoralize my investigating officers,” in response to reports of purported police inactivity at Sandeshkhali. Let me see what happens if they conduct the investigation correctly from the outset. We must apprehend the offender. On that, there can be no compromising.”
